Heart of Downtown Promotion Allows Shoppers to Help Nonprofits

While it may be the thought that counts on most days, on Valentine’s Day gift giving is almost mandatory.

Whether it’s giving a card, a box of candy or something pricier like jewelry, anyone with a sweetie to impress will be shopping for gifts. This year shoppers who frequent downtown businesses can buy a gift and give to others in the community at the same time.

From Feb. 10-20 a number of downtown Naperville businesses will be donating a portion of a customer’s sales to local charities, with the customer choosing where the money should be donated, according to Katie Wood, executive director of the Downtown Naperville Alliance. The participating nonprofits include: , , Naperville CARES, Samaritan Interfaith, 360 Youth Services and the .

Customers need to shop at the participating businesses and be sure to ask for the “Heart of Downtown” form. Once the promotion ends, the ballots will be totaled and the funds will be divided among the six organizations, Wood said.

“It’s really a win-win,” Wood said in an e-mail. “Most of all it helps local charities and their benefactors.”

Tied into the Heart of Downtown promotion will be the first of its kind blood drive, which will be held downtown, Wood said. Heartland Blood Centers will be downtown on Feb. 16 from 1-5 p.m. Donors are asked to register in advance. Participants will check in for the blood drive at and the Heartland Blood Center van will be located in front of the .

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